Ben Gurion's Desert Home, Historical memorial in Sde Boker, Israel

Ben-Gurion's Hut is a three-room prefabricated Scandinavian-style dwelling at the centre of Kibbutz Sde Boker, where David and Paula Ben-Gurion lived from 1953 to 1973. It has two separate bedrooms, a guest room and a large work room holding a library with shelf space for a thousand books. It was the only hut in the settlement with running water, sewage, a water heater, a refrigerator and gas. Two more huts housed his aides, guards and guests.

In May 1953 Ben-Gurion stopped at Sde Boker on his way back from opening the Ma'ale HaAtzmaut road to Eilat and spoke with the young founders. That September he donated 1,200 lirot for camels, and on 14 December 1953 he and Paula moved into the prefabricated hut. He lived there until his death in 1973, serving again as prime minister from 1955 to 1963 and settling permanently only after retiring in 1963.

The hut keeps the material culture of Israel's first decades: original furniture, tableware and wall pictures in the style of the 1950s and 1960s. In the yard, a sand table shows the Negev today, and an olive grove holds a pioneering park on Ben-Gurion's leadership. A short animation, "Ben-Gurion Hosts", uses his own written and spoken words.

The site is open to visitors and offers guided tours as well as the opportunity to explore the rooms at your own pace. An orientation map is available at the residence to help with navigation.

The hut was the only building in the compound with running water, sewage, a water heater, a refrigerator and gas. Two more Scandinavian prefab huts housed Ben-Gurion's aides, guards and many guests.